Brussels, 22/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 22 January, EU home ministers gave their endorsement to the adoption of a European internal security strategy in coming weeks, after the fashion of the “European Security Strategy”, established by the Union in 2003 to combat common external threats. The aim of the new strategy is to lay the foundations for a common European policy in the wake of entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the Stockholm Strategy. Above all, however, the document has a pedagogical nature intended to demonstrate that the EU is involved in protecting its citizens. “This strategy does not mean new obligations upon the EU. It aims to make citizens aware of common threats and to explain to them how the EU can improve their security and hence the freedom of all European citizens”, said Spain's Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba.
There are three parts to the strategy document. The first is a comprehensive analysis of existing threats such as terrorism, organised crime (drug trafficking, corruption, people smuggling, cybercrime) and natural disasters. The second part gives an inventory of progress needed in ten key areas - for example, the exchange of information, police and legal cooperation, the protection of external borders and cooperation with third countries - which will allow internal security challenges to be met. Finally, the third part deals with the next stages to be accomplished. Thus, the development of internal security strategy will be entrusted to the standing committee on internal security (COSI). The Commission is expected above all to study the possibility of creating a fund for internal security and then to adopt a communication specifying the content of the future strategy. The final text on this strategy is due to be adopted during the Justice and Home Affairs Council end February. (B.C./transl.jl)